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Modern power lockable thyristors

Introduction

The creation of semiconductor devices for power electronics began in 1953 when it became possible to obtain silicon of high purity and the formation of silicon disks of large sizes. In 1955, a semiconductor controlled device was first created, having a four-layer structure and known as a "thyristor".

It was switched on by applying a pulse to the control electrode at a positive voltage between the anode and the cathode. The switching off of the thyristor is ensured by the reduction of the direct current flowing through it to zero, for which a number of circuits of inductive capacitive switching circuits have been developed. They not only increase the value of the transformer, but also worsen its mass-dimensional indicators, reduce reliability.

Therefore, simultaneously with the creation of the thyristor, research has begun to ensure its shutdown on the control electrode. The main problem was the provision of rapid resorption of charge carriers in the base regions.

The first such thyristors appeared in 1960 in the USA. They are called Gate Turn Off (GTO). In our country they are better known as lockable or switched off thyristors.

In the mid-90s a lockable thyristor with a ring lead of the control electrode was developed. It was named Gate Commuted Thyristor (GCT) and became the further development of GTO-technology.

Thyristors GTO

Device

Lockable thyristor is a fully controllable semiconductor device, based on a classical four-layer structure. Turn it on and off by supplying positive and negative current pulses to the control electrode. In Fig. 1 shows the symbol (a) and the block diagram (b) of the switched-off thyristor. Like a conventional thyristor, it has a cathode K, an anode A, a control electrode G. Differences in instrument structures consist in a different arrangement of horizontal and vertical layers with n and p conductivities.

The greatest change was in the arrangement of the cathode layer n. It is divided into several hundred elementary cells, evenly distributed over the area and connected in parallel. This performance is caused by the desire to ensure a uniform current reduction throughout the entire area of ​​the semiconductor structure when the device is turned off.

The base layer p, despite being made as a whole, has a large number of contacts of the control electrode (approximately equal to the number of cathode cells) also uniformly distributed over the area and connected in parallel. The base layer n is similar to the corresponding layer of a conventional thyristor.

The anode layer p has shunts (zones n) that connect the n-base to the anodic contact through small distributed resistances. Anode shunts are used in thyristors that do not have an inverse blocking ability. They are designed to reduce the turn-off time of the device by improving the conditions for the extraction of charges from the base region n.

The main version of the GTO thyristor is a tablet with a four-layer silicon wafer clamped through the heat-compensating molybdenum disks between two copper bases with increased thermal and electrical conductivity. With the silicon plate, a control electrode is contacted, having a terminal in the ceramic body. The device is clamped by contact surfaces between two halves of coolers, isolated from each other and having a design determined by the type of cooling system.

Operating principle

In the cycle of operation of the thyristor GTO, four phases are distinguished: inclusion, conductive state, shutdown and blocking state.

At the schematic section of the thyristor structure (Fig. 1, b), the lower terminal of the structure is anodic. The anode contacts the layer p. Subsequently, the bottom layer is followed by: a base layer n, a base layer p (having a control electrode terminal), a layer n directly in contact with the cathode terminal. Four layers form three pn junctions: j1 between the layers p and n; j2 between the layers n and p; j3 between the layers p and n.

Phase 1 - inclusion. The transition of the thyristor structure from the blocking state to the conducting state (inclusion) is possible only when a forward voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode. Transitions j1 and j3 are shifted in the forward direction and do not interfere with the passage of charge carriers. All voltage is applied to the middle j2 junction, which is shifted in the opposite direction. Near the j2 junction, a zone depleted by charge carriers is formed, which is called the region of the bulk charge. To turn on the thyristor GTO, a voltage of positive polarity U G (pin "+" to layer p) is applied to the control electrode and cathode along the control circuit. As a result, the current of the I G is flowing along the circuit.

Lockable thyristors impose stringent requirements on the steepness of the front dIG / dt and the amplitude of the IGM control current. Through the j3 junction, in addition to the leakage current, the switching current I G begins to flow. The electrons creating this current will be injected from layer n to layer p. Next, some of them will be transferred by the electric field of the base j2 transition to the layer n.

At the same time, counter injection of holes from the layer p into the layer n and further into the layer p, will increase simultaneously. there will be an increase in the current created by the minority charge carriers.

The total current passing through the base junction j2 exceeds the switching current, the thyristor is opened, after which the charge carriers freely pass through all four of its regions.

Phase 2 is a conducting state. In the flowing mode of direct current, there is no need for a control current I G , if the current in the anode circuit exceeds the value of the confinement current. However, in practice, in order to ensure that all structures of the switched-off thyristor are constantly in a conducting state, it is still necessary to maintain the current provided for the given temperature regime. Thus, the control system generates a current pulse of positive polarity all the time of switching on and conducting state.

In the conducting state, all regions of the semiconductor structure ensure a uniform motion of charge carriers (electrons from the cathode to the anode, holes in the opposite direction). Through the j1, j2 junctions, the anode current flows, and j3 is the total current of the anode and the control electrode.

Phase 3 - shutdown. To turn off the thyristor GTO with the voltage U T is unchanged (see Fig. 3), a voltage of negative polarity UGR is applied to the control electrode and cathode along the control circuit. It causes a turn-off current, the flow of which leads to the resorption of the main charge carriers (holes) in the base layer p. In other words, there is a recombination of holes entering the layer p from the base layer n and electrons entering the same layer along the control electrode.

As the base junction j2 is released from them, the thyristor begins to be locked. This process is characterized by a sharp decrease in the forward current I th of the thyristor in a short time interval to a small value I TQT (see Fig. 2). Immediately after locking the base j2 j3, the j3 transition begins to close, but for some time due to the energy stored in the inductance of the control circuits it is in a slightly open state.

Fig. 2. Graphs of the current change of the anode (iT) and the control electrode (iG)

After all the energy stored in the inductance of the control circuit is consumed, the j3 transition from the side of the cathode is completely locked. From now on, the current through the thyristor is equal to the leakage current that flows from the anode to the cathode through the control electrode circuit.

The process of recombination and, consequently, shutdown of the lockable thyristor largely depends on the steepness of the front dIGQ / dt and the amplitude I GQ of the reverse control current. To ensure the necessary steepness and amplitude of this current, a voltage UG must be applied to the control electrode, which should not exceed the value permissible for j3.

Phase 4 - blocking state. In the blocking state, the voltage of negative polarity U GR from the control unit remains attached to the control electrode and cathode. The control current flows the total current I GR , consisting of the leakage current of the thyristor and the reverse control current passing through j3. The j3 transition moves in the opposite direction. Thus, in the thyristor GTO in the forward blocking state, two junctions (j2 and j3) are biased in the opposite direction and two space charge regions are formed.

The control system generates a pulse of negative polarity during the turn-off and blocking state.

Protective chains

The use of thyristors GTO, requires the use of special protective circuits. They increase the mass-dimensions, the cost of the converter, sometimes require additional cooling devices, but are necessary for the normal functioning of the devices.

The purpose of any protective circuit is to limit the rate of increase of one of the two parameters of electrical energy when switching a semiconductor device. In this case, the capacitors of the protective circuit CB (Figure 3) are connected in parallel with the protected device T. They limit the rate of rise of the direct voltage dUT / dt when the thyristor is turned off.

LE chokes are installed in series with the device T. They limit the rate of rise of the forward current dIT / dt when the thyristor is switched on. The values ​​of dUT / dt and dIТ / dt for each device are normalized, they are indicated in the manuals and the passport data for the instruments.

Fig. 3. Scheme of the protective circuit

In addition to capacitors and chokes, additional circuits are used in protective circuits to ensure the discharge and charge of reactive elements. These include: the diode DB, which shunts the resistor RB when the thyristor T is turned off and the charge of the capacitor CB, the resistor RB, which limits the discharge current of the capacitor CB when the thyristor T is turned on.

Control system

The control system (CU) comprises the following functional blocks: a contour consisting of a circuit for generating a gate pulse and a signal source for maintaining the thyristor in an open state; contour of forming a locking signal; the thyristor maintenance circuit in the closed state.

Not all types of CS need all of the listed blocks, but the contours of the formation of the unlocking and locking pulses must contain each SS. In this case, it is necessary to ensure galvanic isolation of the control circuit and the power circuit of the switched-off thyristor.

To control the operation of the switched-off thyristor, two main control systems are used, differing in the way they signal the control electrode. In the case shown in Fig. 4, the signals generated by the logic unit St are galvanically isolated (separation of potentials), and then they are fed through the switches SE and SA to the control electrode of the switched-off thyristor T. In the second case, the signals first act on the switches SE (on) and SA (off ), which are at the same potential as the SS, then are fed to the control electrode through the galvanic isolation devices UE and UA.

Depending on the location of the keys SE and SA distinguish low-potential (NPSU) and high-potential (SSP, Figure 4) control schemes.

Fig. 4. Control circuit variant

The control system of the NPSU is structurally simpler than the SPSU, but its capabilities are limited with respect to the generation of long-duration control signals operating in the regime flowing through the direct current thyristor, and also in ensuring the steepness of the control pulses. To generate long-duration signals, you have to use more expensive push-pull circuits.

In the VPSU, the high steepness and the increased duration of the control signal are achieved more simply. In addition, here the control signal is used in full, while in the NPSU its value is limited by the potential-sharing device (for example, by a pulse transformer).

Information signal - a command to turn on or turn off - is usually fed to the circuit via an optoelectronic converter.

GCT thyristors

In the mid-1990s, ABB and Mitsubishi developed a new type of Gate Commutated Thyristor (GCT) thyristors. Actually, GCT is a further improvement of the GTO, or its modernization. However, the fundamentally new design of the control electrode, as well as the markedly different processes that occur when the device is turned off, make it expedient to consider it.

The GCT was designed as an instrument devoid of GTO-specific drawbacks, so first we need to address the problems that arise with the GTO.

The main disadvantage of GTO is the large energy losses in the protective circuits of the device when it is switched. Increasing the frequency increases the losses, so in practice the thyristors GTO are switched with a frequency of no more than 250-300 Hz. The main losses occur in the resistor RB (see Figure 3) when the thyristor T is turned off and, consequently, the discharge of the capacitor CB.

The capacitor CB is designed to limit the rate of rise of the direct voltage du / dt when the device is switched off. By making the thyristor not sensitive to the du / dt effect, it was possible to abandon the snubber circuit (the path of forming the switching path), which was implemented in the GCT design.

Feature of control and design

The main feature of GCT thyristors, in comparison with GTO devices, is a rapid shutdown, which is achieved both by changing the control principle and by improving the design of the device. Fast turn-off is realized by turning the thyristor structure into a transistor structure when the device is locked, which makes the device not sensitive to the du / dt effect.

GCT in the phases of switching on, conducting and blocking states is controlled as well as GTO. When you turn off the control GCT has two features:

the control current Ig is equal to or exceeds the anode current Ia (for thyristors GTO Ig less than 3 to 5 times);

The control electrode has a low inductance, which makes it possible to achieve a dig / dt control current increase rate of 3000 A / μs or more (for digitizers GTO, the dig / dt value is 30-40 A / μs).

Fig. 5. Distribution of currents in the structure of the thyristor GCT at shutdown

In Fig. 5 shows the distribution of currents in the structure of the thyristor GCT when the device is turned off. As indicated, the actuation process is similar to the incorporation of GTO thyristors. The shutdown process is different. After the negative control pulse (-Ig) of the equal magnitude of the anode current (Ia) is applied, all the forward current passing through the device is diverted into the control system and reaches the cathode, bypassing the j3 transition (between the regions p and n). The j3 transition is shifted in the opposite direction, and the cathode transistor npn is closed. Further switching off the GCT is analogous to turning off any bipolar transistor, which does not require an external limitation of the rate of rise of the forward voltage du / dt and, therefore, allows the absence of a snubber chain.

The change in the design of GCT is due to the fact that the dynamic processes occurring in the device at shutdown proceed one to two orders faster than in the GTO. So, if the minimum turn-off time and the blocking state for the GTO is 100 μs, for GCT this value does not exceed 10 μs. The rate of increase of the control current when switching off the GCT is 3000 A / μs, GTO - does not exceed 40 A / μs.

To ensure high dynamics of switching processes, the design of the output of the control electrode and the connection of the device with the pulse driver of the control system were changed. The output is made circular, circling the device around the circumference. The ring passes through the ceramic body of the thyristor and contacts: inside with the cells of the control electrode; outside - with a plate connecting the control electrode with the pulse former.

GCT thyristors are manufactured by Mitsubishi and ABB. The devices are designed for voltage UDRM up to 4500 V and current ITGQM up to 4000 A.

Currently, thyristors GCT and GTO are mastered at the Russian enterprise JSC Electrovypryamitel (Saransk). Thyristors of the series TZ-243, TZ-253, TZ-273, ZTA-173, ZTA-193, ZTF-193 (similar to GCT ) and others with a silicon wafer diameter of up to 125 mm and a voltage range of UDRM 1200 to 6000 V and currents ITGQM 630 to 4000 A.

In parallel with the lockable thyristors and for use in conjunction with them, JSC "Electrovypryamitel" developed and mastered in series production fast-setting diodes for damping (snubber) circuits and reverse current diodes, as well as a powerful pulse transistor for output stages of the driver of control (control system).

Thyristors IGCT

Thanks to the concept of rigid control (thin regulation of alloying profiles, meza- technology, proton and electron irradiation to create a special distribution of controlled recombination centers, the technology of so-called transparent or thin emitters, the use of a buffer layer in the n-base region, etc.) when turning off. The next major achievement in the technology of rigidly controlled GTO (HD GTO) in terms of instrumentation, control and application was the idea of ​​controlled devices based on a new "locked thyristor with an integrated control unit (driver)" (English Integrated Gate-Commuted Thyristor (IGCT)) . Thanks to the hard control technology, uniform switching increases the safe working area of ​​the IGCT to the limits limited by avalanche breakdown, i. E. to the physical capabilities of silicon. No protective circuits are required from exceeding du / dt. The combination with improved power losses allowed us to find new applications in the kHz range. The power required for control is reduced by a factor of 5 compared to the standard GTO, mainly due to the transparent anode design. The new IGCT family of monolithic integrated high-power diodes has been developed for use in the range 0.5 - 6 MVA. With the existing technical capability of serial and parallel connection, IGCT devices allow to increase the power level up to several hundred megavolts - amperes.

With the integrated control unit, the cathode current is reduced before the anode voltage begins to increase. This is achieved due to the very low inductance of the control electrode circuit, realized due to the coaxial connection of the control electrode in combination with the multilayer board of the control unit. As a result, it became possible to achieve the value of the switched-off current rate of 4 kA / μs. With a control voltage UGK = 20 V. When the cathode current becomes zero, the remaining anode current passes to the control unit, which at this time has a low resistance. Due to this, the energy consumption of the control unit is minimized.

Working with "hard" control, the thyristor switches when locked from pnpn state to pnp mode for 1 us. The shutdown occurs completely in the transistor mode, eliminating any possibility of triggering the trigger effect.

Reducing the thickness of the device is achieved by using a buffer layer on the anode side. The buffer layer of power semiconductors improves the characteristics of traditional elements by reducing their thickness by 30% with the same direct breakdown voltage. The main advantage of thin elements is the improvement of technological characteristics at low static and dynamic losses. Such a buffer layer in a four-layer instrument requires the elimination of anode short circuits, but the effective release of electrons during the shutdown is preserved. In the new IGCT instrument, the buffer layer is combined with a transparent anode emitter. A transparent anode is a pn junction with a current-controlled emitter efficiency.

For maximum noise immunity and compactness, the control unit surrounds the IGCT, forming a single structure with a cooler, and contains only that part of the circuit that is needed to control the IGCT directly. As a result, the number of elements of the control unit is reduced, the parameters of heat dissipation, electrical and thermal overloads are reduced. Therefore, the cost of the control unit and the failure rate are also significantly reduced. The IGCT, with its integrated control unit, is easily fixed in the module and precisely connected to the power supply and the source of the control signal through the optical fiber. By simply opening the spring, thanks to the elaborate clamping contact system, a correctly calibrated clamping force is applied to the IGCT, creating electrical and thermal contact. Thus, the maximum ease of assembly and the greatest reliability are achieved. When IGCT operates without a snubber, the reverse diode must also work without a snubber. These requirements are fulfilled by a high-power diode in a clamping casing with improved characteristics, manufactured using the irradiation process in combination with classical processes. The ability to provide di / dt is determined by the operation of the diode (see Figure 6).

Fig. 6. Simplified three-phase inverter circuit for IGCT

Conclusion

The rapid development of power transistor technology in the early 1990s led to the emergence of a new class of devices - IGBTs - Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors. The main advantages of IGBT are high operating frequency, efficiency, simplicity and compactness of control circuits (due to small control current).

The appearance in recent years of the IGBT with an operating voltage of up to 4500 V and the ability to commute currents to 1800 A led to the displacement of the locked-up thyristors (GTO) in devices up to 1 MW and a voltage of up to 3.5 kV.

However, the new IGCTs, capable of operating at switching frequencies from 500 Hz to 2 kHz and having higher parameters than IGBT transistors, combine an optimal combination of proven thyristor technologies with their inherent low losses, and a powerless, high-efficiency shutdown technology by affecting control electrode. The IGCT device today is the ideal solution for applications in the field of power electronics of medium and high voltage.

Characteristics of modern powerful power switches with two-sided heat dissipation are given in Table. 1.

Table 1. Characteristics of modern powerful power switches with two-sided heat sink

Device type

Benefits

disadvantages

Areas of use

Traditional thyristor (SCR)

Lowest losses in the on state. The highest overload capacity. High reliability. Easily connect in parallel and in series.

Not capable of forced locking on the control electrode. Low operating frequency.

Ability to controllable locking. The overload capacity is the same as that of the GTO. Low losses in the on state for switching. Operating frequency - up to units, kHz. Built-in control unit (driver). The possibility of a serial connection.

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